Electrical contactor



Nomi?, 1936. J, Q TAMSITT 2,061,391

' ELECTRICAL CONTACTOR Filed Apil 14, 1953 immmw Patented Nov. 17, 1936 UNITED STATES V2,ill,391

Pa'ilazN` Fries f' ELECTRICAL CONTAQTOR Application April 14, 1933, Serial No. 666,088 18 Claims. (Cl. 200-16/1) The present invention relates to electrical contactors or switches, and the disclosure in this application is a continuation in part of the disclosure contained in my copending application, Serial No. 607,688, filed April 27, 1932, on Elevator signal apparatus. have disclosed one embodiment of my improved contactor employed in association with elevator signal apparatus for selecting or controlling the various signals associated with a typical modern elevator. Although the invention has particular utility in that use, it is also capable of general use in practically any situation where a circuit mak'- ing and breaking function is desired.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide an improved construction of contactor wherein the cooperating surfaces of the two contact elements have a wiping action in their engagement and disengagement. This is of decided advantage for clearing these surfaces of any foreign matter tendingv to accumulate therevAnother object of the invention is to provide a contactor characterized by an improved arrangement of current collecting parts for conveying current to the movable switch contacts, which current collecting parts are also arranged to have a relative wiping action in the motion of the contactor, whereby to clear the` surfaces of said current collecting parts of any foreign matter tending to accumulate thereon. In regard to this latter feature, the present conta'ctor is preferably of the type wherein some of the motion of the movable contact occurs around a pivot axis, and the purpose of the current collecting parts referred to is to provide supplementary means for conveying current to this movable contact, so that reliance need not be placed solely on the pivot parts for conducting current to said contact. As above remarked, these current collecting parts also have a wiping action in the actuation of the contactor.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved contactor wherein part of themotion of thel movable contact element occurs as a pivotal motion and part of it occurs as a flexure of a spring element, such as a leaf spring or spring strip. The pivotal part of the motion can be utilized for swinging the movable contact into and out of engagement with theiixed contact, andthat part of the motion occurring from the flexure of the spring strip Ican be utilized to produce the aforesaid wiping or sliding motion be-` tween the contact surfaces.

Another object of the invention is to provide a In that application, I-

simplified construction wherein a single spring strip serves to support vthe movable contact and also serves as one of the current collecting parts, said spring strip producing the aforesaid wiping action between the main-switch contacts and be tween the surfaces of the current collecting parts.

` Another object of the invention is to provide an improved vmounting and arrangement of the spring strip on a pivot support whereby both ends of the strip are caused to flex and slide with relation to their respective contactl surfaces in the oscillation of said pivotedsupport.

Another object is to provide a construction wherein a single continuous spring strip serves to carry the movable contact, serves as a current collector, and serves as the spring element for opening the contacts.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the following detail description of two preferred embodiments thereof. In the accompanying drawing illustrating such embodiments:-

Figure l is a vertical sectional view through one embodiment, illustrating the contacts in their open circuit relation;

Figure 2 is a similar view showing the relation I Figure 'I is aside elevational view showing the i relation of the parts when the contacts first engage; and

Figure 8 isa similar view showing, the relation of the part-s at the end of the circuit closing operation. v

Referring rst to Figures 1 to 4, inclusive, the contactor or switch is shownas being mounted on a panel baseboard or other suitable support I4. The switch itself includes a base I5 of insulating material. A U-shaped bracket I6 is mounted on the base I5 and includes two upstanding portions I6a and I6b (see'Figure 4). These portions receive and support a pin l1 which is' preferably formed of copper or some other conductor. The bracket lis itself formed of conducting material and this bracket is secured to the base I5 and to the panel I4 by means of a pair of bolts i8 and I9. 'I'he bolt |8 is in direct contact with the bracket I6 and hence forms an electrical continuation of the same. The other bolt I9 includes a contact head 2| which is spaced from and electrically insulated from the bracket I6.

A pivot pin 23 is carried upon the bracket and pivotally supports va pivot block 24. A spring member 25 formed of conducting material such as phosphor bronze encircles the pivot block 25 l and extends forwardly therefrom in approximateiy'the same direction, but on opposite sides of the pivot'23, these forwardly extending portions being indicated by the reference numerals 25a and 25h and which serve` as contact bearing spring arms. The lower of these spring arms carries a rigid contact member 22 which is arranged just above the iixed contact pin 2 I. The upper spring arm 25h is formed to have sufficient resiliency and to bear against the pin Il at all times so that thenormal position of the rigid movable contact 22 is disengaged from the iixed contact 2l. The device is provided with an actuating finger 28 which is formed to embrace the pivot block 24 and to securely iix the spring conductor 25. in place. If desired, the actuating finger 28 and the spring 25 may be pinned to the block 24 whereby these parts are securely held in position.

As previously remarked, the spring 25h contacts at all times with the pin I'I and the resiliency of said arm 25h serves to normally retain the movable contact 22 out of engagement with the xed contact 2|. By this means the actuating iinger 28 is also held outwardly with respect to the bracket I8. The pin I 'I acts as a xed contact since the arm 25h contacts therewith, and while it is possible to utilize the pivot pin 23 as the electrical connection between the bracket I8 and the movable spring arms 25a, I prefer the construction shown because, by having'the spring 25 encircle the pivot block 24 with one end contacting with the xed copper pin I 1 and the other end connected to the contact 22, a good connection is obtained at all times.

The end of the actuating finger 28 is preferably provided with a raised or humped portion 28a. The contactor is capable of actuation by any suitable design of operating member having any type of motion. For example, a. vertically reciprocating member may be arranged to move up and down against the hump 28a; or a horizontally reciprocating member may be arranged to engage, and deilect the hump; or a rotating member vmay be arranged to have a wiping action against the hump. The operating relation employed in` my improved elevator signal apparatus, disclosed in my above mentioned co-pending application, illustrates one typical arrangement, in which arrangement a cam 3| is adapted for motion substantially parallel to the length of thel switch, its switch actuating movement being assumed as from right to left. Figure 1 illustrates the switch when the same is open, just before the cam 3| has reached a position to contact with the hump 28a on the actuating finger 28. Figure,2 illustrates a position in which the cam3| has swung the finger 28 inwardly a sumcient amount to'cause the contact 22 to engage the xed contact 2|. As the cam 3| continues to move, the iinger 28 is pressed inwardly an additional amount, by virtue of the cam riding over the hump 28a, so as to swing the spring arms and the pivot block an additional amount. This additional movement serves an important purpose. From Figures 2 and 3, it will be observed that by virtue of the outer spring arm 25h being positioned to one side of the pivot axis 23 and the other spring arm 25a being positioned on the other side of th-e axis 23, this additional rocking of the pivot block 24 causes wiping or sliding movement between the two pairs of cooperating contacts, I1 and 25h, and 2| and 22, respectively. That is, as the actuating finger 28 is moved inwardly of the bracket, the contact 22, after it engages the fixed contact 2|, slides to the right as viewed in Figures 2 and 3, and the other contact 25D slides towards the left on the other xed contact Il. The contact 25h is in continuous engagement with the iixed contact pin il,

but the rigid contact 22 on the spring arm 25a panel. In such arrangement, these bolts'extend inwardly a sufiicient distance to pass through a retaining plate 33, also of -insulating material, and serving to overlie the slot 32. A filler block 34 is placed over the bolts I8 and I9 before the plate 33 is attached, and the ends of these bolts receive terminal strips or other like connectors 35 and 38. as best shown in Figure 1.

The side walls |6a and IBb of the chamielshaped bracket I 6 serve to hood or shield the contact surfaces against dust and dirt accumulating thereon, and when the switch is mounted vertically with the pivot block 24 uppermost, this pivot block, together with the actuating finger 28 and spring ngers 25a and 25h serve also to hood or shield the contact surfaces against dust and dirt.

In the modied construction illustrated in Figures to 8, inclusive, wherein the same reference characters designate corresponding parts, the bracket I 8' is shown with only one side wall |6a, although the channel-shaped construction may also be employed here if desired. Projecting inwardly from one end of this side wall is a finger I'I which functions as the stationary current collecting part `in the same manner as does the pin or stud I'I of Figures 1, 2 and 3. The upper arm 25h of the spring strip 25 functions as the movable current collecting part in cooperation with the stud or projection II, the same as previously described. Projecting inwardly from the other end of the bracket wall |6a is an arm or iinger 23' which serves as the bearing pintle for the pivot member 24'. The bracket I8 can be readily constructed as a stamping, with the studs or iingers I'I' and 23 punched inwardly from the ends of the side wall |6a. In this modified construction, the pivot member 24 is of cylindrical form provided with radial flanges 24" at its ends, resulting in a spool-shaped structure. These end flanges 24" have bearing openings therein fitting snugly over the pivot finger 23'. The spring strip .finger portion 28" its inner end also wrapped around the cylindrical sleeve portion 24', on the outer side of the spring strip 25. That portion of the actuating finger curved about the sleeve and spring strip is designated 28". `After the parts have been thus assembled, those portions of the peripheral edges of the side flanges24" contiguous to the curved are crimped or pressed inwardly as best shown in Figures 5 and 6. This crimping operation forms small beads or rims 4l which project inwardly from each end flange 24 to overlie the side edges of the curved finger portion 28", and such beads or rims may bear tightly against said curved nger portion for locking the nger to the spring strip 25', whereby it is assured that the curved portions of both will oscillate as a unit. Washers 42 and t3 are preferably provided on the pivot Support 23 at the in ner and outer ends of the rotatable assembly. This assembly may be held against displacement oli the end of the pivot iinger 23 in any suitable manner; in the preferred construction illustrated theextremity of said finger 23' is subjected to a punching operation -to upset the end of said ngei on the outer side of the outer washer 43, as indicated at 44, wherebyA to prevent endwise displacement of the parts. The actuating iinger 28' is also provided with a hump 28a', and can be operated in any of the ways described in connection with the preceding embodiment. Figures 6, 'I and 8 correspond substantially to Figures 1, 2, and 3 in illustrating how, in the latter embodiment, theinitial downward movement of the actuating firiger oscillates the movable contact 22 down into engagement with the stationary contact 2l', and how continued movement of said actuating inger serves to slide or move the lower spring arm 25a' to the right for a wiping action between the contacts 2i and 22 and serves to mcve the upper spring arm 25h" to the left for causing a wiping action between said spring arm and the current collecting stud Il'. y

It will be observed that in both of the above described embodiments, the rst part of the pivotal movement of the pivotal mounting member 24 or 24' causes the movable contact 22 or 22 to swing with corresponding pivotal movement, such bringing that contact down into engagement with the stationary contact 2i or 2|!'; and that the latter part of thepivotal motion of said mounting member causes fiexure of the spring arm 25a or 25a',

thereby drawing the movable contact tothe right while in pressure engagement with the fixed contact,l and resulting in the wiping action which cleans the abutting surfaces of the contact 'of any foreign matter. The spring arm may be preliminarily shaped to cause the heel of the movable contact to have rst engagementwith the fixed contact, as shown in Figure 2, or the spring arm may be preliminarily shaped to have the first engagement occur at the toe of the movable contact, as shown in Figure "I, or it may be shaped to have flush contact occur in the initial engagement. It will also be observed that in both embodiments the upper resilient arm 25h or 25h is caused to slide to the left on the contact stud I1 or I1 during the entire pivotal motion of the mounting member 24 or 24', with the result that the coacting surfaces of these two current collecting parts are wiped clean of any foreign particles. Furthermore, in both embodiments the spring strip 25 or 25' serves as the spring element for separating the contacts 22 and 2l or 22' and 2|',- and serves as an outer protecting element for shielding the contact surfaces.

y 3 While I have illustrated and. described what I regard to be the preferred embodiments of my invention, nevertheless it will be understood that such are merely exemplary and that numerous modifications and rearrangements may be inade therein without departing fromthe essence of the invention.

I claim:-

1. A contactor comprising means acting as a base, a pair of fixed insulated contacts carried thereby, a springarm pivoted to the base and having a contact disposed on one side of the pivot v.axis of said arm and adapted to engage one. of said xed contacts with a wiping motion when the arm is swung in one direction, and a second spring arm electrically connected with the `rst spring arm on the other side of the pivot axis of the latter and movable therewith, said second spring arm being arranged to engage the second of said fixed contacts with a wiping motion when the arm is swung in said one direction, the pressure on said fixed contacts thereby progressively increasing as the arm is swung in said direction.

2. A contactor comprising means acting as a base, an actuating finger pivoted thereto, a pair of fixed contacts carried by the base and electrically insulated from one another, a pair of spring arms connected with said finger at points spaced on opposite sides of its pivotal axis and extending from said finger, in the same direction toward said pair of fixed contacts, both of said spring arms ybeing adapted to respectively engage said xed contacts with a wiping motion when the actuating finger is shifted in one direction.

3. A contactor comprising, in combination, an insulating base, a U-bracket secured to the base, a pair of relatively fixed contacts', one being mounted on the bracket and the other being mounted on the base adjacent thereto, a block pivoted to said bracket, a pair of spring arms projecting from opposite portions of'said block and arranged to respectievly cooperate with said fixed contacts to engage the same with a wiping motion when said block is swung about its pivotal axis on the bracket, and a rigidarm on said block and arranged to move the same to swing one springv arm into and out of engagement with its xed contact.

4. A contactor comprising, in` combination, means acting as a base, a pair of xed contacts carried by the base and electrically insulated from one another, a bracket on the base, a pivot block pivoted to said bracket. a spring bent to encircle said block and having its ends extended to provide a pair of spring arms projecting from opposite sides of the block at points spaced from the pivotal axis of the block, and a rigid operating arm having a portion encircling the block and serving to secure the spring arms in position thereon.

5. A contactor comprising a support, a rocking member pivotally mounted on said support, a relatively fixed contact carried by said support, a relatively movable contact adapted to move into and out of engagement with said relatively xed contact, a flexible metallic strip carried by said rocking member and having one portion serving v member to swing said movable contact into engagement with said fixed contact and to cause l relative sliding motion between said stop and the portion of the metallic strip engaging the same by ilexure of said metallic strip.

6. A contactor comprising a support, a rocking member pivotally mounted on said support, a relativelyfixed contact, a relatively movable contact adapted to move into and out of engagement with said relatively fixedv contact, a relatively fixed stop member, and a exible metallic strip having its intermediate portion secured to said rocking member and having one extending arm carrying said movable contact and having another extending arm engaging said relatively xed stop member and reacting thereagainst for swinging said rocking member so as to disengage said movable contact from said fixed contact, said rst named arm functioning during the oscillation of said rocking member to swing said movable contact into engagement with said xed contact and to cause relative wiping motion between said' contacts and said second named arm having sliding engagement with said stop member.

7. A contactor comprising a support, a rocking member pivotally mounted on said support, a relatively xed contact, a relatively movable contact adapted to move into and out of engagement with said relatively fixed contact, a ilexible spring member having one portion carrying said movable contact and having another portion partially embracing said rocking member, and an actuating member partially embracing said rocking member on the outer side of said spring member to` secure the latter to said rocking member. y

8. A contactor comprising a support, a rocking member pivotally mounted on said support, a relatively fixed contact, a relatively movable contact adapted to move into and out of engagement with said relatively xed contact, a exible metallic strip including a substantially U-shaped portion embracing said rocking member, said relatively movable contact being secured to an extending end of said metallic strip, and an actuating member comprising a substantially U-shaped portion embracing said rocking member and the U-shaped portion of said metallic strip.

9. A contactor comprising a support, a rocking member pivotally mounted on said support, a relatively xed contact, a relatively movable contact adapted to move into and out of engagement with said relatively ilxed contact, a current colv lecting member, a substantially U-shaped ilexible metallic strip having its intermediate portion embracing said rocking member, one of the extending arms of said strip having said relatively movable contact secured thereto, and the other extending arm of said strip. maintaining continuous resilient contact with said current collecting member, and an actuating nger comprising a substantially U-shaped portion embracing said rocking member and the intermediate portion of said metallic strip.

10. A contactor comprising a support, a rocking member pivotally mounted on said support and including an end flange, a relatively xed contact, a relatively movable contact adapted to move into and out of engagement with said relatively ilxed contact, and a flexible spring arm. having said relatively movable contact secured to one end thereof and comprising a portion wrapped around said rocking member through substantially a haii' revolution, said end flange including a circumferentially` extending bead crimped inwardly for substantially a half revolution about the rocking member for holding the latter portion of said spring arm on said rocking member.

11. A contactor comprising a support, a rocking member pivotally mounted on said support, said rocking member comprising a hub portion and end anges, a relatively xed contact, a relatively movable contact adapted vto move into and out of engagement with said relatively xed contact, a stationary current collecting part, a substantially U-shaped flexible metallic strip having its intermediate portion embracing the hub of said rocking member, one of the arms of saidA strip having said relatively movable contact secured thereto, the other arm of said strip maintaining continuous pressure engagement with said stationary current collecting part, and an actuating iinger having an end portion wrapped partially around thehub portion of said rocking member and over the intermediate portion of said ilexible metallic Strip, said end flanges including beads crimped inwardly over the embracing portions of said linger and of said strip.

12. A contactor comprising an insulating base, a bracket secured thereto, means serving as a pivot carried by said bracket, a rocking member mounted on said pivot, a iixed contact carried by said base and insulated from said bracket, a spring arm carried by the rocking member and arranged to engage said contact when the rocking member is moved to one position, means serving as a current'collecting meniber carried by the rocking member and comprising a second spring arm, and an abutment member carried by said bracket and engaged by said second spring arm, both of said spring arms having relative sliding movement with respect to the parts which they engage as the rocking member is rocked and said 'second spring arm reacting against said abutment member to biasthe rocking member for movement in one direction.

13. A contactorcomprising, in combination, an insulating base, a. pair 0f relatively fixed contacts supported in insulated relation on said base, a block pivoted to said base, and a pair of spring arms projecting in generally parallel relation from said block on opposite sides of the pivot thereof and arranged to respectively cooperate with said xed contacts to engage the same with a wiping motion in opposite directions when said block is swung in one direction about its pivot axis on the base.

14. A contactor comprising, in combination, an insulating base, a bracket supported on the base, a pair of relatively fixed contacts supported in insulated relation by said base, a block pivoted to said bracket, a pair of spring arms projecting in the same general direction from opposite portions of said block and arranged to respectively cooperate with said fixed contacts to engage the same with a wiping motion when said block is swung about its pivotal axis on the bracket, and a rigid arm on said block and arranged to hold said spring arms on said block and to move the same to swing one spring arm into and out of engagement with its fixed contact.

15. A contact comprising a support, a rocking member pivotally mounted on said support, means carrie'd by said support and saving as a xed stop, a relatively xed contact, a relatively movable contact adapted to move into and out of engagementwith said relatively xed contact, a ilexible metallic strip comprising two portions extending in the same general direction, one portion serving vto resiliently mount said movable contact lsaid fixed stop, the other portion engaging said flx'ed stop for normally tending to hold said contacts separated, said rst named portion being rigidly secured to said rocking member, and an actuating member operatively connected to oscillate said rocking member, the first-named portion of said metallic strip functioning during the irst part of the rocking motion of said rocking member in a contact'engaging direction to swing said movable contact into engagement with said xed contact and functioning during continued rocking movement of said rocking member in the same direction to cause relative sliding motion between said contacts by flexure of said metallic strip portion and said other metallic strip portion having continuous sliding engagement with said stop.

16. A contacter comprising a support, means serving as a xed-stop carried by said support, a

rocking member pivotally mounted on said support, a relatively xed contact, a relatively movable contact adapted to move into and out of engagement with said relatively xed contact, and

, flexible spring means extending between said relatively movable contact and said rocking member on one side of said xed stop for resiliently mounting said contact on said rocking member,

arate said contacts, and means for actuating said' rocking member in the opposite direction, the portion of said spring means carrying said movable contact being in a position to cooperate with said ixedystop to limit movement of the rocking mem ber in said rst direction.

17. A contactor comprising a support, a rocking member pivotally mounted on said support and including an end ilange, a relatively fixed contact, a relatively movable contact adapted to move into and out oi? engagement with said relatively fixed contact, a flexible spring arm having said relatively movable contact secured to one end thereof and comprising a portion wrapped partially around said rocking member, and an actuating nger also partially wrapped around said rocking member, said end flange including a circumferentially extending' bea-d crimped inwardly for holding both the actuating n'ger and said spring arm on said rockingmember.

18. A contactor comprising a support, a rocking member pivotally mounted on said support, said rocking member comprising a lhub portion and end anges, a .relatively xed contact, a relatively movable contact adapted to move into land out of engagement with said relatively fixed contact, a stationary current collecting part, a substantially U-shaped exible metallic-strip havi'ng its intermediate portion embracing the hub of said rocking member, one of the arms of said strip having said relatively movable contact secured thereto, the other arm of said strip maintaining continuous pressure engagement with said stationary current collecting part, and an actuating iinger secured to said rocking member. l,

-JosPH C. TAMsrr'r. 

